Dunnings sentencing delayed to later this month

Matt Mencarini, LSJ , WZZM6:07 PM. EST November 10, 2016

Former Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney Stuart Dunnings III looks around before a sentence hearing on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016 at the Ingham County Circuit Court in Lansing. A new sentencing date has been set for Nov. 22. (Photo: Julia Nagy, LSJ, Custom)

LANSING, MICH. - Former Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney Stuart Dunnings III will have to wait until later this month to learn his sentence for a felony conviction.

Dunnings, 64, had been scheduled to be sentenced Thursday by Genesee County Circuit Court Judge Joseph Farah, who is presiding over sentencing because Ingham County judges recused themselves.

However, after arguments about scoring of Dunnings' sentencing guidelines, Vincent Toussaint, one of Dunnings' attorneys, moved for the remainder of the sentencing to be completed later this month. Farah granted the request.

Dunnings is now scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 22 in Ingham County Circuit Court in downtown Lansing.

Toussaint asked for the adjournment, in part, because he is still waiting on reports from Dunnings' sex addiction counselors.

Shortly after Dunnings was charged in March, a judge allowed him to enroll in an inpatient treatment program at an undisclosed location in Tennessee. The reason for the treatment wasn't disclosed.

Dunnings pleaded guilty Aug. 2 to a five-year felony and a misdemeanor. He had been charged with 15 prostitution-related crimes, including a 20-year felony.

The discussion in Thursday's hearing centered around the sentencing guidelines and Dunnings' relationship with the woman identified in court records only as W-6. The guidelines, originally recommended by the state probation department to be 0-3 months in jail, were increased to 0-9 months in jail

Farah can exceed those guidelines, and the Michigan Attorney General's Office, which is prosecuting the case, is seeking a three to five years in prison.

Assistant Attorney General William Rollstin told Farah that Dunnings exploited and manipulated W-6 to be paid for sex and since she was a vulnerable victim the guidelines should be increased.

The woman was a newly single mother who had ended a relationship because a man had abused her, according to court records, and she reached out to Dunnings asking for help with a custody case.

Toussaint said Dunnings "was looking for a mistress. And that’s what it is." He said there was no exploitation or manipulation.

Farah agreed with the AG's office and said based on police reports not only did W-6 think Dunnings would help with the child custody case, but that she thought if she didn't have sex with Dunnings he could hurt her case.

"'I’ll pay you for sex,' Farah said, referring to the proposition Dunnings made. "How is that seduction?"